Destination information:

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IFLY tips

Bang Po restaurant (2 hrs)

In Chaweng you will find all kind of restaurants with Thai and international dishes. If you like it really local, try Bang Po Restaurant. It’s favourite by locals and not many foreigners go there. But the food is really traditional Thai. And of course they serve a lot of seafood. Take a taxi to Bang Por, from Chaweng that’s about ThB 200. Ask the driver for his phone number or mention a time he will pick you up again, as it’s quite hard to get a taxi in Pang Por. The exact address is 56/4 Moo 6, Maenam. Phone: +66 87 267 2818.

Hin Ta Hin Yai (2 hrs)

Hin means rock, and Hin Ta and Hin Yai are grandmother and grandfather rock. The rocks really look like a giant dick and pussy. From Chaweng it’s easy to take a red taxi, the one you just hold in the street. A ride to Hin Ta Hin Yai is approximately ThB 50 per person. A normal taxi is about ThB 300 one way. From the main street you just walk a bit to the rocks. The entrance is free, but if you like to climb up to the viewing point you have to pay ThB 10 per person. You can enjoy the beach and the rocks as well and there is a wonderful restaurant with a great view.

Big Buddha and Wat Ban Plai Leam (2 hrs)

If you visited other places in Thailand you’ve seen enough temples or much better ones, but on Samui it’s also nice to go to the Big Buddha and Wat Ban Plai Leam. They’re both north of the airport and by red cab it’s about 20 minutes ride for ThB 30 per person. The entrance to the temples is free.Just start at the big Buddha and from there you can walk to the other temple. If it’s low tide you can walk through the creek, otherwise you have to walk around it (or swim).

Namuang Fall and elephant trekking (½ - 2 hrs)

In the middle of the island of Samui are the wonderful waterfalls of Namuang. The first one is 18 metres high; the second one is 79 metres. Wonderful to see and to take nice pictures, but beware of mosquitoes. If you like you can swim in the falls, but the water is a bit cold. A visit to the falls is good in combination with a trip to Hin Ta Hin Yai. From there you can take a taxi for ThB 200 to the falls. At the falls you can do elephant trekking as well. It’s not really exciting, but they can bring you from one fall to the other. Great fun if you travel with children.

Daytrips by speedboat (1 day)

If you are bored at Samui, you can take a boat the nearby islands Ko Tao, Ang Thong Marine National Park or Ko Phanang. There are several operators where you can book a day trip by speedboat. Don’t go on a trip if the weather is a bit stormy as the sea can be very rough. All trips start around 8 am and the operators pick you up at your hotel. The trips end at 4.30 pm at Samui. Prices are approximately ThB 1300 to 1800 including lunch. Bring your swimwear, camera and go snorkelling of course!

Full moon party Ko Phanang (1 day)

Some time ago, a group of tourists found that the most beautiful moon was in Koh Phanang. They arranged a party along the crescent-shaped beach of Haad Rin to celebrate the Full Moon party. Nowadays still every month many people celebrate this party. The party begins at dusk, when the round yellow moon makes its appearance over the white sand beach. At night there’s a real party with many people dancing and drinking. Its only once a month, so check well when this party is. Of course there’s a party everyday, but that’s not a real Full Moon Party.You can easily take a scheduled boat from Samui to Phanang, which only takes about 20 minutes. You can take a boat from Bang Rak Pier, Boh Phut Pier or from Nathon, but from there it will take you about one hour.

Learn to cook Thai (½ day)

Eating Thai food is wonderful and there are many options. But how do you do when you’re back home. Try to learn how to cook real Thai food at Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts in Chaweng. There are cooking classes every day at 11 am and 4 pm. The class begins with the making from scratch of one of their famous homemade curry pastes. You learn how to prepare a curry recipe and two more dishes for a complete meal. It’s fun, teachable and delicious. More in formation about the menu and reservations can be found at their website.

Not to do:

Jet ski or motorbike rentIt’s fun to rent a motorbike or a jet ski at Samui, but be aware of the fact that most companies where you can rent these things operate without any insurance and the lessee is fully responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle.We would like to recommend you to refrain from renting these noisy, pollutant and dangerous vehicles.

Fire lanterns and fireworksFire lanterns and fireworks are being sold at beaches at night. They are a serious fire hazard. Some of the fire lanterns have already landed on roofs and balconies and caused fires. Fireworks can also ignite fires and cause serious accidents.Besides that the department of civil aviation does not authorize fireworks and fire lanterns as they interfere with air traffic. So thank you for not buying these things and for your contribution to fire prevention and a cleaner island and sea.

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Language of the world

Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in Samui.